Samprada Dance

Region : Western Orissa
Also Known As : Bahaka Dance

Samprada Dance is also known as “Bahaka Dance”. This type of dance prevalent in Western Orissa is a standardised performance of singing, playing on the musical instrument, which looks like ‘Mridanga’ but bigger in size and ‘Jhanja’ locally known as ‘Kartal’ and dancing. The peculiarity of this performance is that the performer displays his capability in ‘Gayana’, ‘Badana’ and ‘Nartan’.

One cannot be an expert performer in the Bahaka dance unless he acquires adequate knowledge in these three aspects. The tuning of the songs, the stepping movement of feet and rhythmic playing of the musical instruments make the performance very interesting and charming, ‘Bhajan’, ‘Janana’, ‘Chhanda’, ‘Chaupadi’ and Sanskrit ‘slokas’ are recited while dancing. Another player who is known as “Palia Bahaka” assists the main performer. This type of dance is generally arranged on social and festive occasions.